Chinese swimming star Sun Yang is hoping for a successful title defense at the upcoming 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics next month and hopes that a gold medal finish will finally clear the controversies that have inundated him in recent years.

According to China Daily, Sun has suffered a rocky ride since conquering the 400 meter and 1,200-meter freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, United Kingdom.

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The Olympic swimming gold medalist has been involved in disputes with his former mentor Zhu Zhigen over engaging in too much commercial activity. Sun was also detained after being involved in a vehicular accident in his hometown Hangzhou, where he was discovered driving without a license in November 2013.

In May 2014, the Chinese Swimming Association slapped Sun with a three-month suspension after he tested positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine, an anti-ischemic (anti-anginal) metabolic agent which helps improve myocardial glucose utilization of the body.

Despite the distractions, the 24-year-old has rekindled his ambition to scoop up more gold in Rio.

"Respect is always earned through hard work ... it's not just given, no matter what you won in the past. I am still young and I am still hungry for more titles," said Sun,

According to Swim Swam, Sun holds the current world-leading time of 1:44.82 for this year in the 200-meter freestyle.

Sun's supremacy in freestyle continued at the World Championships, where he won a combined five gold medals in the 400, 800 and 1,500 in Barcelona 2013 and Kazan 2015, becoming one of the most decorated swimmers in the world.

After experiencing so many ups and downs, Sun said he has learned how to better manage himself away from the pool.

"I think I've grown more mature; I won't have a second chance to experience the prime of my athletic career, so I am fully investing my time and energy in the pool," he said. 

TagsSun Yang, Rio Olympics 2016, fina world championship, 2012 london olympics, Chinese Swimming Association, trimetazidine